Mercury in Your Dental Fillings

7/13/2008

Congress talks to the Dental Industry regarding wastewater pollution from mercury in tooth fillings on Tuesday July 3, 2008. They also discussed their personal feelings on mercury and how it has affected their lives. Congress woman Watson blamed mercury fillings she got as a 9-year-old child for ailments such as allergies, headaches, and more. Researchers believed that she had mercury poisioning due to her fillings.

Dental fillings called amalgams, are made up of as much as 54% mercury. The FDA has agreed that mercury fillings may pose a safety risk to young children and pregnant women but many believe that this warning is not inclusive enough. Some research may suggest that mercury can be linked to autism, Alzheimer’s, and other degenerative diseases.

Congress is concerned that mercury is ending up in the wastewater and are debating whether or not dentists should be required to use a "separator". Separators are equipment to keep pieces of fillings from getting into public wastewater. Currently nine states are required to use a separator to prevent wastewater contamination.

Whatever the outcome the message is clear; metal fillings contain a poisonous material, which carries a potential for harm not only to our wastewater but to our bodies as well.

Source:

USA today July 8, 2008